Stephanie Barker-Fry

Biography

Stephanie Barker Fry is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Communication and a purpose-driven brand consultant, with over 15 years’ experience in fashion communication, strategic partnerships, and consultancy. As Knowledge Exchange Lead at London College of Fashion’s School of Media and Communication, Stephanie plays a key role in connecting education with industry and society.

Her work is rooted in the belief that fashion communication can serve as a tool for creating awareness and measurable impact around pressing societal issues. Stephanie has led numerous projects in collaboration with a wide range of external partners, including non-profits, social enterprises, and global luxury brands with focus on improved access, inclusion, and social engagement through fashion. Her academic practice spans research and pedagogy, partnership development, project management, cultural programming, and community building. She has presented her outputs at global conferences and represented London College of Fashion at events in Paris, New York, Accra, and Switzerland. Whether leading collaborative initiatives or delivering talks, Stephanie advocates for fashion communication as a platform for transformation—one that can shape culture, influence policy and drive social impact.

Stephanie’s current research investigates the artist residency framework as both a spatial and conceptual model for positioning fashion as a social practice. Situated at the intersection of education, creativity, and community, the residency is envisioned as a dynamic platform for disruptive and intercultural knowledge exchange. It also presents sustainability through an aesthetic lens—considering how visual language and design can express values of care, responsibility, and longevity. Recent work has focused on the cultural contexts of London and Accra with plans to expand this research into further iterations throughout 2025/26.

Alongside her academic practice, Stephanie is passionate about supporting brands to authentically engage with meaningful third spaces, especially in response to today’s social and economic challenges. She consults with organisations to act with purpose in ways that are both sustainable and credible, bridging the gap between commercial relevance and cultural responsibility.